Jorma Kinnunen

Jorma Kinnunen ( Jorma Kinnunen Vilho Paavali; born 15 December 1941 Pihtipudas ) is a former Finnish javelin thrower, who was successful in the 60s of the 20th century. He threw a world record and won an Olympic silver medal.

Since he was very small with 1,74 m, he was known as " Pikkujättiläinen " (Eng. " little giant " )

He won five national championships:

Jorma Kinnunen took part in three Olympics and three European championships. At the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964, and at the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972, he came sixth. At the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, he delivered a thrilling duel with Jānis Lūsis. Just four inches was Kinnunen back after Lusis had thrown on the 2nd attempt 86,34 m. Only in the last passage of the Lette could clarify the situation and sat down with a 90 -meter throw much against Kinnunen by, who also scored his best distance in the last attempt.

The following comparison of the litters of Kinnunen and Lusis (in brackets the number of the experiment) shows that the Finn only had the better third best attempt:

His best result at European Championships could Jorma Kinnunen at denEuropameisterschaften 1971 recorded in Helsinki, where he placed fifth. Disappointing, however, ended the European Championships for him in 1969 in Athens. After he had just thrown 92.70 m world record, he had gone as a favorite in the competition, but only came in 10th place

His son, Kimmo Kinnunen was also successful as a javelin thrower.

Power development

Successes and placements

• Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964: Sixth with 76.94 m ( width victories of his compatriot Pauli Nevala: 82,66 m)
• European Championships in Budapest in 1966: Twelfth with 70,48 m (Victory width of the Latvian Jānis Lūsis: 84.84 m)
• Olympic Games 1968 in Mexico City: SILVER with 88.58 m (behind the Latvian Jānis Lūsis with 90,10 m and before Hungary Gergely Kulcsár with 87,06 m)
• World record of 92.70 m on July 18, 1969 in Tampere
• European Championships 1969 in Athens: tenth with 74.82 m (Victory width of the Latvian Jānis Lūsis: 91,52 m)
• European Championships 1971 in Helsinki: Fifth with 80.96 m (Victory width of the Latvian Jānis Lūsis: 90,68 m)
• Olympic Games in Munich in 1972: Sixth with 82.08 m ( width victories of the German Klaus Wolfermann: 90,48 m)